60 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



weighing about eleven pounds, also put into 

 requisition. A supply of El ey's cartridges suited 

 to the calibre of each, with well-dried powder 

 and waterproof caps, were stowed away in the 

 larger pockets of my shooting-coat, while the 

 smaller receptacles contained the minor sundries 

 necessary to complete my equipment. 



But although I willingly dispensed with the 

 services of a biped attendant, I had one compa- 

 nion whose assistance was all in all to me on 

 such occasions. This was an Irish water spaniel, 

 whose education I had myself superintended in 

 his native bogs and on the shores of the Atlantic, 

 and whose sagacity, courage, and docility far sur- 

 passed those of any dog that I have been able 

 to procure in this country. He was rather larger 

 than a setter, but his legs were shorter and 

 stronger : his coat was curly, entirely of a liver 

 colour, and of a fine silky texture ; his ears long 

 and pendulous; his feet were webbed like a 

 duck's, to the very toes ; his face was smooth ; his 

 forehead broad and open. But the most striking 

 feature was his eyes. Nothing in canine physiog- 

 nomy could surpass the intelligence of their 

 expression. They were of a bright golden colour, 

 like those of a sparrowhawk : restless, and always 

 on the move ; indicating a joyous and adventur- 

 ous spirit, and an ardour and perseverance, which 



